CG Lighting
“Cleared For Takeoff”
Lighting Reel
Responsible for lighting/compositing all shots
MAYA / ARNOLD / AFTER EFFECTS
“Cleared For Takeoff” Stills
The film required dramatic lighting for many scenes, so I developed a high-contrast look that could support both the story and the characters’ emotional states. I used warm colors to visually represent Amelia and cooler colors for Leo, then mixed warm and cool light more aggressively during emotionally heightened scenes to reinforce the conflict between them. I also placed subtle bounce lights around the eyes to preserve expression and bring out the characters’ performances, and used volumetrics to deepen the mood and atmosphere of certain shots. Larger area lights helped produce softer, more natural shadow transitions when the scene called for them, while more focused sources gave interior and dramatic moments a greater feeling of intimacy and a sense of internal conflict within the characters.
MAYA / ARNOLD / AFTER EFFECTS
“Star Wars: A New Hope” Lighting Study
I mimicked the toned-down, classic lighting style from 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope” by using diffused lighting for softer shadows, minimal backlighting, and leaving background elements relatively unlit. Additional compositing in After Effects.
MAYA / ARNOLD
Interior Lighting Practice
MAYA / ARNOLD
Lighting a Bust
I practiced high key, low key, and Rembrandt lighting with this statue. To achieve the minimal shadows, bright illumination, and low contrast for high key lighting, I used larger area lights far away from the subject at a high wattage. To achieve the dramatic shadows, high contrast, and darker tone of low key lighting, I used smaller area lights, placed them closer to the subject, and dulled the wattage (except the backlight to create contrast). For the Rembrandt lighting, I placed an area light relatively close to the statue, exactly where it would achieve the classic Rembrandt highlight.
“The Godfather” Lighting Study
Finally, in my lighting study of “The Godfather,” I found that placing the light closer to the subject at a relatively high wattage created the iconic Godfather shadows.